Local news: 

►  In the PS Business Journal -- Seattle Times to union: Drop grievances or no severance pay -- If the Newspaper Guild doesn’t back down and the Times follows through on its threat, it would mean no severance pay for 40 guild members the Times is about to lay off, says the Guild's Liz Brown, who calls the newspaper’s stance a “particularly nasty and cynical move.”

►  In the Peninsula Daily News -- Mill to close for at least 10 days; no pay for idled workers -- The 275-employee Port Townsend Paper Corp. mill will close Dec. 19 for at least 10 days and if sales don't improve another closure could happen in the next quarter of 2009.

►  In today's Peninsula Daily News -- Jefferson County cutting 13 jobs -- Actual layoffs were limited to the Department of Community Development, where six jobs were cut due to falling fee revenue.

►  In today's Everett Herald -- Edmonds delays cuts after tax increases -- The city council delays millions of dollars of program cuts until at least 2010 two weeks after raising taxes and fees.

►  In today's Tri-City Herald -- EPA, HAB concerned over DOE's Hanford deadlines -- EPA says the DOE suspended work to meet legal deadlines without adequately working with its regulators.

Boeing news: 

►  At SPEEA.org -- Boeing abandons Wichita negotiations with no notice -- Says SPEEA Executive Director Ray Goforth: "The company has not responded to our proposals and has now abandoned negotiations without notifying our negotiations team or suggesting a date to resume. This is the latest example of how little this company values Wichita engineers."

►  From AP -- Boeing pauses Wichita contract talks with SPEEA -- Boeing says the recess in talks for a contract for 700 engineers will give them a chance to look at a SPEEA counteroffer.

►  At SeattlePI.com -- SPEEA threatens work slowdown -- The union says it has started a "work-to-rule" campaign for Wichita engineers and technical workers. The first step, it says, is asking engineers there to decline all voluntary overtime and voluntary work during the holidays.

Legislative news:

►  From AP -- State Republicans expecting larger say in budget negotiations -- “I’m not one to do the ‘I told you so’ routine,” says Sen. Joe Zarelli. “But… we can’t excuse our own actions by saying it’s the result of the national economy. That’s only partially correct.” 

►  In the PS Business Journal -- Budget cuts could jeopardize raises for top-rated teachers -- The raises, $5,000 or $10,000 a year, are a reward for teachers passing a certification program. About 900 of the 1,420 teachers who undertook certification this year are expected to pass.

►  In today's Seattle Times -- State isn't required to balance budget, but it's still the goal -- There's no legal barrier preventing the state from deficit spending. But nobody in Olympia wants to do it.

►  In the Tri-City Herald -- State Rep. Bill Grant diagnosed with rare lung cancer -- He has not indicated if the diagnosis changes his plans for the upcoming session or the rest of his term.

►  Today from AP -- Idaho state employees' pay, benefits in doubt -- (Lacking collective bargaining rights, the politicians will unilaterally decide whether their pay and benefits get cut.)

►  At HorsesAss.org -- PDC files complaint against Rossi, McKenna, Realtors -- In what could be a costly turn of events for the subjects, both financially and politically, PDC Executive Director Vickie Rippie has filed a detailed complaint with her own commission, alleging numerous campaign finance and reporting violations on the part of Republicans Dino Rossi, Attorney General Rob McKenna, the Washington Association of Realtors and their various committees.

What about the workers? 

►  In today's NY Times -- In a factory sit-in, an anger spread wide -- The scene in this factory offers a glimpse at how the loss of more than 600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs in a year of recession is boiling over. Workers laid off Friday from Republic Windows and Doors say they will not leave, even after company officials announced that the factory was closing. Their sharpest criticisms are aimed at their former bosses (who gave them only three days’ notice of the closing instead of the federally required 60 days) and the company’s creditors (Bank of America, a recipient of $25 billion in federal bailout money, which workers say forced immediate shutdown of the factory and is blocking payment of owed wages and vacation pay). But the workers' anger stretches broadly to the government’s costly corporate bailouts, which, they say, have forgotten about regular workers.

►  From AP -- Support for workers in Chicago factory sit-in -- They are amazed by the mix of supporters, politicians and journalists who packed a foyer outside. "We never expected this," says a factory employee and vice president of their union. "We expected to go to jail."

►  Today from NBC Chicago -- Obama sides with workers in factory sit-in -- "When it comes to the situation here in Chicago with the workers who are asking for their benefits and payments they have earned, I think they are absolutely right," says the president-elect. "What's happening to them is reflective of what's happening across this economy."

Other national news: 

►  In today's Seattle P-I -- State congressional leaders outline legislative goals -- Rep. McDermott thinks the time is ripe to finally provide affordable health care coverage for all Americans. Sen. Murray is looking to expand access to Veterans Affairs programs. Rep. Inslee senses an opportunity to boost renewable energy initiatives. Others mention SCHIP expansion.

►  In today's Seattle P-I -- The economy: Now it's the jobs (editorial) -- Congress should pass the Unemployment Insurance Modernization Act, which would send some $7 billion to the states for enhanced jobless benefits. Rep. McDermott says UI must be extended quickly because it will provide a boost to the economy in general and "provide struggling Americans" modest benefits. 

►  In today's NY Times -- Detroit bailout is set to bring more U.S. oversight -- Congressional Democrats are drafting legislation for tight government control of the crippled American auto industry, including the possible creation of an oversight board made up of cabinet secretaries and the head of the EPA and led by an independent chairman or “car czar."

►  From Bloomberg -- Biden shows he will be labor's advocate in Obama administration -- He made the decision to be a voice for workers as vice president after union officials called him to complain that their interests aren’t represented by President-elect Obama’s economic advisers.

►  At AFL-CIO Now -- Tomato workers win agreement with Subway -- The campaign to bring better wages and working conditions to Florida’s tomato fields takes a big step as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers reach agreement with the biggest fast-food buyer of Florida tomatoes.

►  In today's LA Times -- Timing of SAG strike authorization vote may aid passage -- The process will occur this month when much of Hollywood is shut down, possibly resulting in a low turnout.